ENTERTAINMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 405, 14 January 1909, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"THE SCARLET TROUBADOURS."

The lightness,, brightness,\ and Variety' o! ' the entertainments of• the .Soarlet Troubadours were as, conspicuous in their new pro- i framme. last evening as: they .haye , always : een in the past. Their .witticisms, songs i and sketches Kept a large audience rocking .with mirth when it was not; btfsy I with ap- ; 'plause, and the '-souvenir ..programme -was depreciated as a souvenir -by .the .fact that two-thirds of the items'given were encore numbers, which had no place; in . it. Mr< Sydney Manneringj tenor, and. Mr.' Ford Waltham, basso, combined well, in-a humorous duet, "The Two Beggars." Mr. Manneringalso sang. Hayward s ."Come Back to Me," in 'pleasing style, and' Mr. 'Waltham was eri'cored for his" fine singing-of'Sullivanis song, "Ho, Jolly Jenkin.", 'As an encore number to this, ;.he gave •a; rollicking; solo, ."Here's a health to the jolly blacksmith, the hest of' all fellows;" Mr.- Alfred l..Cunningham's fine baritone voice waS ■ heard'.to its best advantage in "Gipsy > John," and the audience would not let him', go?'.till he had suns about three other humorous songs, including the gems "Tommy"' and: "Mary was a Magnet to the Men." A plantation song by him in the'second part; was well-received. "The Jester," Mr., Edgar, Warwick, sang and talked and played in a' cleverly. nonsensical fashion, his song of a t - red man, ana song illustrating the diverse ;ways m which, people say good night, being particmarly effective. Miss Maude Fane, earned a recall by her singing, of '.'The Caterpillar . and the Rose," ' and Miss Gertrude Parker wafe demurely charming in her .'kings- '■ 'Dear Little Boy. Next. Door,", and in thesinging part of a • little comedy '"Her. Choice,"'-in!, which 1 a; maiden who wearily wards." off the attentions of a soldier, ah act-or, and other, wooers, falls into the" arms of a long-haired 'iishion-plate artist.' ~ Messrs. Mannering, ; Griffiths, Cun!ningham, ..and Waltham: were, -cncored V. for their quartet, "Where'er IGazo,' 1 and. sang several other numberß,: including the diverfcing "They kissed,'l ; saw;them:;a6'it."- The company more or less as awholei sang Pelissier s: "In the Spring Time,!' .with fine effect, and took part in -a ■ lively'' little sketch; "The Bun Shop,":' a mock-serious song-recital "Tho Progress- of-Modem/Courtship," and an amusing finale "'The'. Big Brass Band. -. Mr.' Percival Mackenzie played "on the banjo a melange of / -national, airs, very cleverly, and sketched in' coloured chalks on ;the same paper- a quite: elaborate seascape and. landscape. to illustrate' ''The-Venetian ■ Song,,; and an encore number. In each, . case, with the;last note of the song, the -lightning artist drew the .last line 01 his- sketch. .; -_lne programme, - which .was .not-.'alio wedto drag for a moment, will be repeated' to-night. , HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE,.' : . Each new , programme ' exhibited < . by. .the management of the Royal 'Pictures;, seems, to . increase the popularity of 7 the;,enteftainmenti . but it will.be hard for;anyfuture. programme to gain more popular favour 1 ithan. that acr corcted last night s ■changeK-.The theatre' was crowded to the doors, standing room only being available, both upstairs r and down. Cer- ; tainly the 'programme■;.w.is'.?wenvyprthy.-V..of-: support) - for/ the • films it .contained were varied enough <to;please -the 1 tastes of., old and young- alike. "Duty versus ;• Revenge" ,was of a. highly dramatic nature. ./ It told the story of hpw .a roving love for her lisuband to bo supplanted by that of a:stranger, and when-her. faithlessness was discovered, fled with, the : stranger.- Her husband . was. a. fireman,' 1 and just after, he discovered that;.his wife,had,- proved;;false, he ~ was .caUed/.to a firo in, an hotel. There ho discovered the sinning coupls,. and after re- ' vengo had urged him to'leave-them to bum . 'io: death,-duty called .with a voice, and the wronged mail dashed into.^the: 'flaming building: and. saved his false wife and , her lover. "The Romany's Daughter" was of a ■ tragic nature,; depicting .how a Romany-lass sought to marry a .her, father's will, and. how tho • latter,-in; his endeavour to revenge : himself on the' re jected 16 ver, •' ' killed 'His- daughter instead', -, :The ; instructive' part of the programme contained some ' very . good-pictures'j "Rioe'Growmg'i-beingi-a good example;' -■ Of humour there -.was. ample,- and the. audience held'its sides !with laughter, as .it witnessed -"A iLover: in. Straw,":/ '..'For the: Peace, of/the Family,".: etc; ;,The programme will be repeated to-night'.,. ■ .. -V' ■ OPERA HOUSE. "Zira " : was repeated last ■ night., by. Mr. Williamsoii's Company at the Opera House, and the.new old story was followed with junflagging interest by a very appreciative audience. Miss Ola Humphrey as Zira rose well >to the exacting .demands of; a highly emo-.. tiorialpart, and had all the sympathies of the house. Mr. G. S. Titheradge- gave real distinction to the part of SirFrederickKnowles, the physician,' and .Mr. Henry Kolker made as much as possible of .tho Rev. Gordon Clavering. The other actors all respond well to 'tho'' demands made upon them. "Zira" will'be staged : again to-night and-to-morrow, when,the company's' present Season -will 'conclude.' 7 -.v. "■/;. 7, - ' -''"''-.y ■ THEATRE ROYAL. • Fullers' Cinema: Patho. wasr'.again in evidence at the Theatre R-oyal .last< night.. . The •interesting programme; • which has now been shornf successfully. for several nights will be replaced with a complete change on Saturday. WEST'S PICTURES. ; West's Pictures were again/ shown to goodbusiness at the Town Hall laStyeyening.: Tonight a semi-change of programme will be made, when some sis. Ulimaroa direct -from Mr., West .in 'England 'will bo shown. These include 'soiiie' of Patho's - latest reproductions of ;a' : 'ispeictacular'and comic character.' . The "EliXer of' Dreams," ''Paris to London," and "Behinc} th 6 Mask," are . all claimed . to be of the/highest order, and will demoristrateYto what--a.- standard of art kinematography can 'be:brpu'ght:- An' exciting . series:, of detectivo rtorjea .' entitled, ! r The.lmprints,", and '®ank?Burglars," will show .the ; kin" _'of;.;detectiyesj-'" Nick Carter, at -work. " Sicily before the ."Earthquako arid' " The, Life of. Samson'" will -retained in to-night's programme.- reliefs will . .include '' Knock Me," •ahdtV'.'-Bobby's .Fife Engine.''' ■ Concession tickets ? are: now being : distributed.; They 'will admit' bearer at half price to all parts. *; •'" .-. . ; . BURXS-JOHNSON.PICTURES, On .'Monday next. a : short, sfeason will be inaugurated at tho Theatro'.R-oysl of the' moving pictures of the glove contest for the championship of the world vb'St'weeh , Jack Johnson and Tommy Burns : at.. tho Sydney Stadium.Messrs. John;; Fuller: and-Sons.se-cured the rights'to exhibity.them from : Jlr; Hugh'. D. M'lntosh,. the promoter '. df .the event, and. as keen intefestV'Was Vtaken in , the. event by followers of boxing here and the . general public, big houses be anticipated.. The plan will be opened at the Dresden this morning;: when seats may; beVreseryed for the orchestral stalls and-dress; circle; MADAME ADA CROSSLEY. ;' The: two concerts to bo given here by Madame Ada Crossley on Monday and Tuesday next at the Town Hall .tyrili be largely attended, judging from the'bpx plan and sale of' tickets, which ppened; yesterday at the Dresden. The opportunity ; of hearine: so many distinguished artists ;in one; and the same concert is,.quife unusual,'aiid;this,alone is enough to attract-moro than ordinary interest.' Mr. John Harrison, whose voice is already familiar here to many, through the. gramaphone, occupies a- position.on the English concert rjlatform to ,which there are few, if any, superiors. Owing to_;Mr.r,Hamilton, Earle s havifg to return to England on urgent private/business, Mr. Jav' Ryan was asked to join the party, and lias, scored a great success. Mr. Ryan, is a young Irish baritone, who came to Australia as a member of the National Opera Company. Mr. Percy Grainger has secured an assured European "reputation as a pianist-and composer. Mr. Leon Snmetini, the : violinist,' is;said to have breadth' and mellowness . of „tono. and great'delicacy of feeling.. The programmes, which will': be identical with those, given in Australia and in the southern, cities of the Dominion, are arranged so as; to; give an op r portunity to; hear Madame Crossley and the . other artists in their best and most popular, numbers— will be suited to, the taste of all sections of the audiences.

THE TITTELL BRUNE SEASON. At the Opera House oil Saturday, eveninj Miss l'ittell Brune, who is supported by Mr. J. C. Williamson's combined .dramatic com. ■ p.any, will make a welcome reappearance hero. The opening play, "The Girl of the Golden West," has been selected for the great suo. cess it has everywhere achieved. Miss Brune is said to have ■ never: been seen to better advantage than in this wild Western eharacter of "The Girl," in . which she plays a lone hand in an exciting and at times desperate : _game. ! ; The proprietress of the, ona saloon in the mining catnp- at* Cloudy 'Mountain, in the SieA'as, the girl is the 0110 white woman in'the region, and hers is the only humanising influence in a community'of 'awless adventurers; such as practically com- . posed the population of, California in : ;.'-th# " ; golden days. Her choice of a partner eventually falls upon one: who, though possessing the most manly exterior of thVlot, has " ' a record as a leader of a bush-ranging, gang : —one :I)ick Johnson—for whose apprehension there is a big reward offered.; i The play'lends-: itself to remarkable and exciting 'situational .. relieved by a love story- of exceptional: Interest. Other -productions: to be staged dur- ; {- ™6. the season are a romantio comedy,. . Diana of Dobson's," by Cicely ' Hamilton; also revivals of Thomas Raceward's comedy* drama, "Sunday," and "Romeo and Juliet." 5 All plans are on view at "tho Dresden; THE CHERMAVSKI CONCERTS; On Saturday afternoon next, Leo, Jan, and Mischel Cherniavski will give their last recital in Wellington at the Town Hall, prior to their departure for tho north. Every* '. where their performances have been received. with extraordinary enthusiasm, and 'it-'has . been a. matter Of peculiar:' gratification' .to Mr. ; Branscombe. that this; has 'beeii-all'the ; 1 more marked in the-' smaller; towns, thus dis- '; posing of the popular impression that' th'a ' lesser communities have no special regard for ' serious music. The box plan is now open at the Dresden, and for. this farewell perform*' ance a full house seems likely. -. •< ' . : SUNDAY CONCERT. On Sunday next a sacred. pictorial concert will ; be given in the ,Opera House.- : Tha entertainment will consist of the "Globe. Pictures"; and vocal items :by Miss -Annis D'obbio and : Mr. Ernest Archer.